Finding themselves down by seven at halftime, the South Effingham Mustangs exploded for 18 points in the third quarter and downed Beach 25-13 at Memorial Stadium Friday night.

"It was a tough first half," South Effingham head coach Greg Manior said. "But (South Effingham) came out and proved what we're capable of in the second half."

Mustang kicker David Smith's 30-yard field goal with 7:22 left in the third quarter put the Mustangs on the board after a first half in which the team totaled only 95 yards, 77 of which came on the ground.

Smith's field goal was set up by a 12-play, 57-yard drive, all on the legs of running backs Frank Manker and Joshua Mercer.

The Mustangs grabbed the lead for the first time with 2:55 remaining in the third when Manker broke through a would-be Bulldog tackler and took off toward the right pilon from 39 yards.

After the kickoff and two Beach penalties pinned Beach inside its own 10-yard line, Michael Woodward broke through the offensive line and tackled Bulldog quarterback LaPrentice Skipper in his own end zone for a safety, putting the Mustangs up 11-7.

Merely six plays after the safety, the Mustangs continued to pile on the third quarter points as Manker found the end zone for the second time on second and nine from the Beach 18. Smith's PAT was good to increase the score to 18-7.

Beach wasn't ready bow down just yet as they answered in their following drive.

Smith's kickoff soared out-of-of bounds, and gave the Bulldogs the ball at their own 35.

Three plays into the drive, on first and ten, Skipper found wide receiver Simon Heyward in the front of the end zone from 39 yards out to tighten the game 18-13 with 11:24 left to play. The Bulldogs failed their conversion attempt.

It was the second time the duo hooked up for a long touchdown catch, after Skipper found a wide-open Heyward up the right sideline in the second quarter for and 80-yard strike to go up 7-0.

Again, the Mustangs answered.

This time, though, it was Mercer's turn to cap the drive. With about 4 minutes left to play, Mercer took the handoff from the 5-yard line and marched untouched into the end zone. Smith's added the PAT to put the game away 25-13.